Watch: This animated history of Russia will tell you more in nine minutes than 900 pages can

Heavy history with a light touch.

The world’s largest country, Russia has had a significant impact on the world for a long time. But how did it become such an influential presence, seen most recently in the form of the country’s alleged involvement in the 2016 US President.

Not surprisingly, the history of the country is long and complicated. Nine minutes is probably not too long an investment to get a glimpse of entire story of a country, spanning centuries, different political systems, and a great deal of warfare and internal battles.

There is a lot more trivia for the uninitiated, leading to both appreciation and criticism, with some commentators pointing out mistakes and inaccuracies.